Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education – Leadership (DECCE-L)
The Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education – Leadership is the second tier
training which prepares those who have at least 2 years of teaching experience
and aspire to be supervisors in child care centres. The 2-tier progression from a
teacher to a supervisor will facilitate trained teachers to put to practice and
consolidate the knowledge and skills acquired from the Diploma in Early Childhood
Care & Education-Teaching before progressing to the Diploma in Early Childhood
Care & Education-Leadership.
Course Content and Training Hours
S/N
1
Core Module
Current Issues and
Research in Early
Childhood Care and
Education
1.1
Current trends and issues in early
childhood care and education (e.g.
child protection, child welfare,
transitions to primary school)
Rationale: to
1.2
Innovations and changes in the
education system in Singapore (e.g.
bi-lingual policies)
1.3
Recent research in early years –
findings and reports on child
development, learning and
implications for early childhood care
and education
1.4
Current trends on working with
children with various types of
exceptional needs
2.1
Designing a developmentally and
culturally appropriate early
childhood care and education
programme
2.2
Monitoring, assessing and evaluating
the early childhood care and
education programme
2.3
Promoting bilingual-literacy in early
childhood care and education
programme
2.4
Planning and organising the physical
environment and space
2.5
Integrating structured and
unstructured play into the
 Raise trainees’ awareness
of current issues and
practices and their
implications for early
childhood care and
education
2
Course Content
Designing the Early
Childhood Care and
Education Curriculum
Rationale: to
 Help trainees guide
teachers to:
o Implement a
developmentally and
culturally appropriate
curriculum
o Integrate new
technologies and
media to teach more
effectively
Course Content and Training Hours for DECCE-L
Training
Hours
60
180
1
S/N
Core Module
o Evaluate early
childhood care and
education curriculum
and to facilitate
children’s growth and
learning
 Be aware of inclusive
strategies to support
exceptional children
Course Content
Training
Hours
curriculum
2.6
Working with children with special
needs: curriculum design and
implementation and strategies
2.7
Guiding teachers in the planning and
organising of collaborative learning
for young children
2.8
Using environmental resources and
Information Communication
Technologies (ICT) in early childhood
care and education programmes
2.9
Guiding teachers in planning for
integrative learning in Language and
Literacy, Numeracy, Environmental
Awareness, Aesthetics and Creative
Expression, Self and Social
Development (including Health
Awareness), and Motor Skills
Development
2.10 Evaluating learning using a variety of
assessment techniques
3
Understanding and
Implementing Action
Research in Early
Childhood Care and
Education
Rationale: to
 Enable trainees to
identify problems in their
workplace and be
proactive in their
attempts to improve the
quality of early childhood
care and education
4
Leadership, Management
and Administration in Early
Childhood Care and
Education Settings
Rationale: to
 Provide trainees with the
3.1 Overview of different types of
research in early childhood care and
education
90
3.2 Action research and its relevance to
early childhood care and education
3.3 Process of action research
3.4 The implications of research findings
4.1
Leadership qualities
4.2
Planning, management and
administration of early childhood
care and education centres (e.g.
services, scheduling, staff training
and development, staff roster,
Course Content and Training Hours for DECCE-L
230
2
S/N
Core Module
basic knowledge and
skills in the management
of early childhood care
and education centres
 Enable trainees to
motivate, manage, assess
and appraise staff
 Familiarise trainees with
local policies, regulatory
and administrative
requirements
 Equip trainees with skills
for collaboration with
various stakeholders (e.g.
colleagues, parents,
relevant agencies, other
professionals and the
community)
5
Professional Development
Rationale: to
 Understand professional
roles (organizational and
instructional leadership)
6
Course Content
curriculum) and evaluation using
assessment tools
4.3
Policies, administrative and
operational procedures and issues
(e.g. child neglect, child abuse,
health and safety)
4.4
Financial planning, management and
control
4.5
Managing change in early childhood
care and education settings
4.6
Human resource management (team
building, conflict management, staff
development, continual professional
development)
4.7
Mentoring
4.8
Use of Information Communication
Technologies (ICT) in administration
and communication
4.9
Leadership styles
5.1 Relating global trends and current
events to early childhood field
6.1 Respect for diversity in a
multicultural society
Rationale: to
6.2 Understanding of issues and problems
faced by families in a multicultural
society
Explore the dynamics
of families, their role in
an evolving society
 Build positive
relationships with
families
 Strengthen relationships
between home and
centre/kindergarten
 Ensure accountability and
30
5.2 Effective communication skills
(speaking, writing, listening)
Partnership with Families
and the Community

Training
Hours
60
6.3 Designing partnership programmes for
families and community
6.4 Early childhood care and education
centre as a resource for families and
the community
6.5 Strategies for conflict resolutions
6.6 Managing feedback from families,
relevant agencies and public
members
Course Content and Training Hours for DECCE-L
3
S/N
Core Module
Course Content
Training
Hours
service satisfaction to
children and families
 Develop a community
network
7
Supervised Leadership
Practice
Rationale: to
 Give trainees field
experience in leadership
and supervision
Pre-Practicum Preparation (18 hrs)
7.1
200
Reflective supervision - theory and
practice
Field Experience (150hrs)
7.2
Staff observation, assessment and
feedback
7.3
Field experience in supervision –
recording, assessing and evaluating
early childhood care and education
programmes and settings
7.4
Using observational techniques for
assessing children in various settings
7.5
Planning and implementing a
family/community programme
Supervised Practicum (20hrs)
7.6
At least 4 separate supervised
practicum visits, including pre- and
post-conferencing with individual
trainee for each visit
Post Practicum - Summary of Experience (12hrs)
7.7
Debriefing and sharing of experiences
7.8
Reflections on learning
7.9
Submission of Practicum Folder
TOTAL TRAINING HOURS
Course Content and Training Hours for DECCE-L
850
4